Nothing compares to a child’s love for a canine. In fact, dogs are believed to be an integral part of a child’s life and many kids feel better when they’re with pets. Nevertheless, there is surprisingly little research, and no well-established measures, on how best to evaluate children’s relationships with their pet dogs.
Led by Kent State researchers Kathryn Kerns and Manfred van Dulmen from the Department of Psychological Sciences, and funded by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, this new study will seek to measure children’s relationships with their pet dogs and determine how these relationships are related to children’s social and emotional adjustment.
Families are eligible and invited to participate in the study if they have at least one child in 4th through 6th grade, and they own at least one pet dog. The study pays $100 and takes place during a scheduled 90-minute visit to the family home. In accordance with the ºÚÁÏÍø ethics committee, all participant information and data are confidential.
If you would like information about the project, or want to volunteer, please call 330-672-2139. A member of the research team will provide you with more information and answer any questions you have about the project.